Psychological Therapy Services

From Tuesday 1 November 2016, Psychological Therapy Services are available for people that experience mild to moderate mental illness, and those that have attempted, or are at risk of suicide or self-harm. Western Victoria Primary Health Network (PHN) has commissioned these services, to be delivered by a panel of allied mental health professionals. Psychological Therapy Services are place-based treatment services, particularly targeted for people that experience barriers to accessing mainstream treatment.

Allied mental health clinicians have been contracted throughout the Western Victoria PHN region to provide full and equitable coverage. This means that access to short-term psychological therapy services will no longer depend on region and funding, and will be spread more evenly throughout the area to provide a stable, year-round service.

Referral Point

Patients will access Psychological Therapy Services via GPs, paediatricians and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health practitioners by referring to a panel of allied mental health clinicians in their communities via a new single point of entry. Western Victoria PHN’s Referral Point will give referrers access to a "one-stop-shop" where people can be referred to the most suitable allied mental health clinician. If a preferred allied mental health clinician is nominated, this preference will be accommodated. Where there is no preferred allied mental health clinicians nominated, people will be allocated on the basis of clinical need, taking into account locality, waiting lists and the expertise of the allied mental health clinician.

Referral Point is a critical component of the new model for the delivery of Psychological Therapy Services and will also be the platform as we commission other mental health services into the future.

To refer, eligible practitioners should complete a PHN Referral Point form, which includes a Mental Health Treatment Plan. The form is available in PDF, Best Practice, Medical Director and Zedmed on our Templates and Resources page under PHN Referral Point. It is also available in WORD format. Please find the following guides for setting up the template for transmission via Referral Point or Argus on Best Practice, Medical Director and Zedmed.